Apple and mushroom crostini

There is not much you can do when you watch Jamie Oliver cook his simple recipes - other than drool a bit, wipe them off your face, and promise yourself you'll make it yourself some day. This was featured in his 15 minutes meals' program, so it's really a downright simple recipe and delicious to boot. I used half of a green apple and half of a red one, just as Jamie himself prescribed. Go on, go grab the grilling pan right this second.

Apple and mushroom crostini

8 fresh button mushroom
1/2 loaf baguette
1 clove garlic
1 apple
1/2 bunch fresh parsley
1 lime
50g shredded cheese

1. Preheat griddle pan on high heat.
2. Remove the mushroom's stalks and place the tops on the griddle pan, turning when charred.
3. Cut the baguette into slices and add to the griddle pan.
4. When charred on both sides, rub with a halved garlic clove.
5. Coarsely slice the apple into matchsticks and toss with roughly chopped parsley and a little lime juice.
6. Place the mushroom on the toasts, sprinkle over the cheese, then pop under the grill until the cheese is melted.

Original recipe by Jamie Oliver.

Pepitas (Roasted pumpkin seeds)

Normally I would simply discard the innards of the pumpkin. But I recalled the bread I had once, which had this layer of crunchy pepitas on top and it was yum. I did not add the pepitas to any bread though. We ate them as snack. They are delicious and easy to make. Although I did follow Ree Drummond's recipe and really thought it'd take an hour of baking in the oven.

Pepitas

Innards of one pumpkin
Salt
2 tsp vegetable oil

1. Rinse the innards in a colander, pulling away the chunks of pulp as you go.

2. Spread the rinsed seeds out on a baking sheet.

3. Allow the seeds to dry for several hours. Don't use paper towels to dry them as they are slimy. Just leave them to dry on the baking sheet.
4. When the seeds are dry, preheat the oven at 120°C.
5. Drizzle the seeds with the vegetable oil. Toss the seeds around to coat.
6. Salt the seeds to taste. Bake for about 15 minutes until they turn light golden brown.

Remarks: I thought they really need an hour in the oven, so I was not going to look at them until halfway through or so. Luckily they started to pop like popcorn, after about 15 minutes in the oven and some already started to get darker than light golden. Thank God for the popping sound.